Chapter 3

"Well, that was interesting!" the bearded guy beside me said.

"It sure was." I said. "What's your name?"

"Me? I'm Luffy!" He answered as he munched on some meat. My eyes involuntarily widened with shock. What the hell? So that's why he's wearing this ridiculous beard! But if he's really hiding, why did he tell me his real name?

"Luffy, you're an idiot. Why did you tell her? Our cover might be blown!" His green-haired companion hit him in the back of the head and his meat flew away.

"Ah!" He cried. "My meat!"

I quickly assessed the situation. So this was the fearsome Monkey D. Luffy that I've heard so much about. From what I know, he has a bounty of 400 Million and is the leader of a breakout that occurred in Impel Down years ago. He was also the brother of Fire Fist Ace which is why he involved himself in that war at Marineford. I've heard rumours that he can make a thousand men fall to their knees with just a look. I supposed it was Conqueror's haki, a rare ability that manifested on insanely strong-willed individuals.

The bearded man before me picked his nose.

"Are you joking?" I asked.

"Huh?" He flicked the dirt from his finger and it landed on another blond guy. "That wasn't funny at all."

"Luffy, you idiot." The blond guy disgustedly wiped the dirt on Luffy's shirt.

"Hey, don't return it to me." Luffy said as he eyed the booger.

"It was yours to begin with!" The other guy retorted.

"It's rude to wipe it on people's shirts!" Luffy said with a righteous tone.

"You're the rude one!"

"I must be mistaken. You can't be the guy I'm looking for." I said with a small smile.

That was when the weirdest thing happened. The blond guy turned to me with a weird expression on his face as his eyes suddenly turned into hearts and saliva dripped from the corner of his mouth. He suddenly gripped both of my hands and knelt before me.

"You are a beauty among beauties!" he exclaimed. "I am Sanji, pleased to make the acquaintance of such a lovely girl like you."

"Just go get stabbed passionately, shithead." A green-haired guy muttered. Then he muttered a few random curses as he frantically looked around. "Shit, my katana! Someone took Shuusui!"

"Ah! The prized katana from the Wano Kingdom that you stole was also stolen!" Another aged man shouted. All around us, people began to notice that some of their belongings have gone missing.

"I told you, I didn't steal it!" The green-haired guy said.

"It must be the fairies." I said. It looked like it just stole one of the guy's three words. If that was so, then he must be Roronoa Zoro. "You'll have to let it go. They always take what they fancy but it's common in this kingdom and there is nothing you can do about it."

"The hell I can't!" The green-haired guy ran at full-force through a window and the other old guy followed him.

"See you later, Zoro!" Luffy grinned as he picked up the meat that fell and continued eating it without a care in the world.

I frowned at their agility and speed. I think that they really are the Strawhat Pirates. Oh my gosh, and I actually fought alongside their captain who was supposed to be my target? I feel like a big dunderhead. I wanted to slap myself!

"Excuse me, fair lady, but I have to chase after that stupid marimo!" Sanji said.

The said man ran out of the restaurant yelling curses at the guy I assumed was Zoro. Okay, is this really the Pirates that I've heard so much about? Were they really the ones who took out Arlong's Kingdom at East Blue? Were they really the ones who challenged Big Mom and have reached the island in the sky?

"So, what's your name?" Luffy asked, he had just finished the meat and he looked at a table nearby. His mouth began watering at the sight of another bowl of black pasta.

"My name's Rin." I said with a smile. "It's really nice to meet you."

"Luffy, we better get going." The huge guy from their table said as he came over to us. "We have things to do, you know."

"Oh yeah, Tra-guy might get mad! Shishishi!" he said as he grinned with that smile that was somewhat too big for his face. "And then he'll frown like this!"

Luffy formed a grim face and forced a vein to throb in his forehead. After a beat, he and his huge friend started laughing. It took them a while to finally regain their senses and remember that I was standing there.

"So, I guess I'll see you later?" I asked. I knew that I will. Somehow, my brother must have something that will ensure that Strawhat will go to the coliseum and I had a vague idea what it is.

"Okay, see you!" Luffy said with a parting wave before running away energetically.

I sighed and headed over to the coliseum. What would be the perfect bait for a simpleton like him? I could only think of two possibilities. One was a lifetime supply of food. Maybe it was a bunch of meat and that black pasta he liked. But that's just stupid. And the other was nearly impossible. I shook my head. I guess I'll just have to find out for myself, huh?

I sat on a bench near the entrance of the coliseum and watched the townspeople pass by. I wasn't really used to Dressrosa's weird population even after living here for seventeen years. And I highly doubted if I ever could. I remember living somewhere else when I was just five with foster children and being shipped here the next year after they found out that I had the Donquixote blood running in my veins.

"I am now accepting entries for those who want to join the battle rounds!" An official shouted as she sorted forms.

"Did you hear about the prize?"

"They got something really interesting this time!"

"Is that really the prize? No wonder big names are propped up here and there!"

I confusedly looked around and tapped on a toy soldier's shoulder. I noticed he only had one leg but he had no trouble navigating himself around. He turned to face me and looked at me questioningly. Or, well, that's what I thought he looked like since the toys' expressions never changed.

"Do you know what the prize they're talking about is?"

"Ah, yes." He said. "Apparently, they have a peculiar devil's fruit. It's called the Mera Mera no Mi!"

I paled. Oh no, this was bad. This was going to get really ugly. This was probably why my brother was so certain Luffy would end up in the coliseum. All along, he had something that would provide leverage for the situation. He had Fire Fist Ace's fruit, a memento of Luffy's brother.

"Is that so?" I said as the toy soldier began hovering away. "Thank you for the information."

My orders were to watch over Luffy but escaping as the tournament was on going would be the best course of action. From the confusion, I was sure no one was going to notice me missing. Maybe, if I was really lucky, the competition would divert Doflamingo's attention and he won't notice the absence of my call. Overall, it seemed like I was leaving a lot up to fate but I had no choice. My only hope is that Violet won't report my escape, since she can see everything that is going on in this island. I began to walk away and began looking for an unsuspecting visitor to ask for directions to the port.

"There you are, Lady Rin!" A voice said from above me.

"What?" I said, confused, before spotting Buffalo hovering before me. "Oh, hey."

"Your brother has told me to check if you have safely arrived in the arena." He said. 'Oh great, babysitters. And his two front teeth make him look like a rabbit.' I thought.

"I was just about to head in." I lied. "So, I've heard some strange rumours. Do we really have the deceased Ace's fruit?"

"Well…" he began. "If you give me a few million beris, I could tell you if the rumours are true or not-dasuyan."

"I am not Baby 5." I scoffed. "And you should stop gambling when you know you totally suck at it."

"I don't. I know what fold means in poker now!" he huffed. "But it's true. We do have that guy's power in our hands! We're going to use it to lure Strawhat Luffy here and kill him. He's probably going to be butchered by the other contestants with bigger bounties anyway. We also have a lot of famous names and pirate hunters-dasuyan!"

"Eh?!" I asked. "I guess it makes sense. It is, after all, considered a valuable logia fruit."

"Let's head into the coliseum, Rin!" Buffalo said. "Baby 5 is also there, reserving some seats for us."

I had no choice. If I refused to go with him, it would arouse suspicion and he'd no doubt phone my brother. Stupid me, I let my guard down and now, I have to find a way to sneak out and head to the harbour. Maybe, in the midst of all the fighting, Buffalo and Baby 5 would find something that would occupy their attention and I would have a chance to sneak away before they notice anything. Satisfied with my new plan, I agreed and headed over to the entrance.

"Last call for anyone who wants to enter the competition!" A lady shouted.

"I will enter!" A familiar voice said.

All around us, people froze in shock and stared at the bearded man. As expected, it was Luffy. I was irritated at my brother's correct prediction about how Luffy would somehow end up in the coliseum. So this was his plan from the very start, huh? It was smart, but not smart enough in my opinion. If he was really threatened, he wouldn't take Luffy lightly but my brother instantly assumed that his enemy would be easily crushed in the ring. I doubted that. I know Luffy wouldn't get that much of a bounty if he wasn't a threat.

"You can't be serious!" The one legged toy soldier I was talking to a little bit earlier reprimanded Luffy. "You're too old for this! Please reconsider what you're about to do!"

"Shishishi! Don't worry about me!" he said to the toy soldier. Then he faced his heavily muscled companion. "Franky, I have to do this."

Before going into the arena, Franky whispered something to Luffy and then headed in the opposite direction. Maybe they were planning something? I had no time to think about it as Buffalo lead me to where Baby 5 was waiting.

"That scrawny old man won't stand a chance in this battle royal-dasuyan!" Buffalo guffawed. "He'd probably keel over arthritis before setting foot in the ring!"

"Oh yeah?" I asked with a sly grin. "I have a feeling he can take guys four times his size. Maybe even knock the strongest gladiators we have."

"That's just absurd!" Baby 5 said. "You must be taking this too lightly, Lady Rin."

"I have an idea! Let's gamble! You bet on the scrawny and pathetic guy while I chose one of the opponents he'll have in the same bracket!"

"Okay." I smirked confidently. "Baby 5, you join us too."

"Oh!" Baby 5 blushed uncontrollably. "Do you perhaps… need me?"

I sweatdropped. But anyway, the perfect idea of how to escape had formed in my head.

The moment of truth came when Block C fighters began to enter the ring. I began looking for Luffy and immediately spotted him. Wow, he really is scrawny but he is nothing near pathetic. I recalled the image of Luffy fighting alongside me in the restaurant and remembered that he was light on his feet, strong and able to eat pasta with grace in the midst of attack.

"Oh look, the man you're betting on is there!" Buffalo guffawed. "I place my bets on that giant."

"Don Chinjao is a legend. I bet he will crush that guy!"

Once the battle royal began, two of my companions were so engrossed in watching. They even stood up and shouted especially when the giant fell, much to the commentator's dismay. When I was sure they had their full attention on Luffy and Chinjao's showdown, I sneaked away and went down the first flight of stairs I encountered.

I had no doubt in my mind that Luffy would win, especially since he showed no signs of weariness. The crowd loved his enthusiasm and I admit, for a minute there, I almost forgot that he was my alibi.

I wandered around and around but found no exit. I began to panic. If I didn't find an exit right now, Baby 5 and Buffalo would immediately find me. I ran into an empty room in what I assumed was the edge of the coliseum. Then I shut the door and prayed for the best.

"I hope I can do this." I muttered before thrusting my fist into the wall and breaking a human sized hole through it. "Yay! I rock!"

I stepped into the street outside with a wide grin. All around, bystanders were looking at me with shock staring unabashedly. I shrugged and started jogging to a random direction, thinking that I'd reach a port soon enough.

"Bingo!" I said as I spotted the beach. There was a small dot in the distance, which looked like a boat to me. "Alright, haki, don't fail me now."

I kicked the air three times a second which, to a normal person, would make me look like I was flying. I kicked the air 'till I reached the back of the ship and deposited myself in the shadows. Good thing too, since a moment later, a walking skeleton passed by.

What the hell was that?!

"The coast is clear, Nami-san!" The skeleton said. He talked!

"Alright!" A voice replied. "Stay on your toes, gentlemen!"

I wondered what they were looking out for and quietly snuck my way to where the voices were coming from. They all had their backs to me and were talking quietly. At that moment, I opened a random door and quickly shut it behind me. I now faced a room with a few beds. Perfect. I hid myself in one of the beds and decided to take a light nap. It will be a while before they notice that I'm gone and by that time, I'll already be far away! My plan was a complete success!

It was moments later when I heard a scream.

"What the hell is that?!"

I snuck a peek and saw that they were looking at the room beside mine. They were all pale and shocked. What happened? They looked like the saw a ghost.

"The whole room is distorted like some sort of abstract art!"

"Abstract art?" I whispered, paling a bit. I knew it was Jora, the subordinate who made everything into weird and ugly art.

You've got to be shitting me! How did they find me so quickly?

Honestly, I never expected anyone to read this. I'm extremely happy than some of you did. :D